Lung volume and exercise ventilation in blind and normal boys and girls

Lung volume at rest and ventilation during maximal exercise on a bicycle ergometer were measured in 180 children. The material comprised 12 blind boys and 11 blind girls (8-14 years) as well as 82 normal boys and 75 normal girls (8-17 years). Forced vital capacity (FVC) per height did not differ significantly between blind and normal children of either sex. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) as a percentage of FVC was very similar in all four groups. Maximal expiratory volume (VE max) was significantly (p less than 0.01) higher in normal than in blind children of both sexes. Tidal volume during maximal work (VT max) as a percentage of FVC (VT max/FVC%) was not age dependent and showed no sex differences. It was significantly (p less than 0.001) higher in normal than in blind children of both sexes. In conclusion, it seems as if a low level of habitual physical activity does not influence lung volume (FVC), while the bellow function of the lungs during maximal work (VE max, VT max/FVC%) is inferior in blind, sedetary children.